CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

Populations of Interest

Populations of particular interest for NRCEC 2024 include but are not limited to: populations with low-incomes, as well as underserved, under resourced, or marginalized populations that may require tailored or specialized services, including but not limited to dual language learners, children affected by trauma or homelessness, children from immigrant/migrant families, racial/ethnic minority families, American Indian and Alaska Native communities, children in foster care, and children with disabilities.

Submission Formats

Individual Posters:

Posters are single free-standing research presentations (with coauthors, where applicable). Poster presentations require the active participation of the primary presenter(s). Posters will be grouped by topical area to foster networking among the presenters and conference attendees. The poster format is especially appropriate when material can be explained briefly, is suited for graphic or visual presentation, and/or the presenter would benefit from high levels of interaction and discussion.

Paper Symposia:

Paper symposia are a cohesive cluster of presentations of 2 to 3 papers with 1 or 2 discussants. Prospective presenters should prepare a session that employs a lively and varied format, using audiovisuals and other materials to enhance learning. Paper symposia will be scheduled for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Each symposium includes an organizer (who submits the application), a chairperson (who facilitates the symposium), presenters of two or three papers, and 1 or 2 discussants. The organizer, discussant(s), or a presenter may also serve as chairperson of the session. The discussant(s) offer integrating commentary and critical analysis, questions for discussion, and/or leads audience participation. Discussant(s) should offer outside perspectives, and not be involved directly in the presented projects as researchers or academic partners in the research. Submissions are strongly encouraged to include non-research voices, such as program participant, practitioner, or policymaker perspectives, as a discussant. Paper symposia must involve presenters from two or more projects, universities, institutions, or organizations who represent different perspectives or different aspects of an issue. Proposals that do not conform to this requirement might not be sent for peer review. Paper symposia that include varied perspectives and foster discussion among persons of diverse theoretical approaches, methodologies, organizations, cultures, perspectives, countries and backgrounds are strongly encouraged to submit.

Poster Symposia:

Poster symposia include a display of 4 to 7 cohesive posters, 1 or 2 discussants, and an opportunity for participants to discuss the posters with the researchers. Poster symposia are 1 hour and 30 minutes in length. Poster symposia may be organized in a variety of ways. Presenters and discussant(s) should not all be from the same project or organization. Proposals that do not conform to this requirement might not be sent for peer review. Submissions are strongly encouraged to include non-research voices, such as program participant, practitioner, or policymaker perspectives, as discussants. Poster symposia that include varied points of view or perspectives and foster discussion among persons of diverse theoretical approaches, methodologies, organizations, cultures, perspectives, countries, and backgrounds are strongly encouraged to submit.

Selection Process & Criteria

• Submissions in acceptable formats that are completed by the submission deadline will be evaluated.
• The NRCEC 2024 Planning Committee will determine the submission’s appropriateness for peer review.
• The NRCEC 2024 Planning Committee reserves the right to recommend final selections to ensure a balanced program.

Evaluation criteria for peer review of all submissions:

1. Appropriateness of subject matter as articulated in the Conference Goals section of the Call for Presentations. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriateness for expected attendees, alignment with goals of the conference, focus on populations of interest, and/or examination of research topics of particular interest.
2. Quality of the research methods. For all types of research submissions (e.g., program evaluations, primary or secondary data analyses, literature reviews or syntheses), reviewers will assess the soundness of research design, methodology, and data analysis, and appropriateness to address the research questions of interest. Regardless of whether findings are at the time of submission, reviewers will examine (as applicable) the quality of the sampling approach, hypotheses, research questions, measures, methodology, data analytic strategy, and approach to engage those with lived expertise throughout the research process. If findings are not available at the time of the submission, reviewers also will assess the feasibility of the proposed timeline to complete the research.
3. Clearly articulated applied implications for early childhood programs and policies that will be disseminated during the presentation. Degree to which the submission strongly links the potential for the work to inform practice and policy. Degree to which the submission describes how practice and policy implications will be disseminated during the presentation.
4. Strong demonstration of how the presentation represents leading edge research and furthers knowledge in the field. If original research, the extent to which the presentation represents a new or significant contribution to the early childhood field (e.g., filling gaps in research, exploring new methods or frameworks, identifying new factors, or advancing understanding of programs, policies, or practice). If a synthesis or literature review, the extent that the presentation provides a cohesive synthesis that clarifies the current state of the field and informs policy, practitioners, and future researchers about next steps.

Additional evaluation criteria for peer review of integrative statements for multi-presenter formats (paper and poster symposia):

5. Varied points of view or perspectives that will contribute to a dynamic presentation. This could include such factors as branching theoretical approaches, contrasting methodologies, presenters from multiple projects/organizations, inclusion of non-research voices as discussant(s), and inclusion of diverse cultural perspectives, international perspectives, or diverse interpretations of the findings.
6. Cohesiveness of presentations. Degree to which the symposia will produce more information or insight on a particular topic, program, or population than would be derived from each presentation separately (e.g., new connections, directions, and/or implications).

Submission Requirements

To ensure a blind review, no presenter or author names, agencies, organizations, or other identifying information should appear anywhere in the abstract, overview, or integrative statement (if applicable). Submissions involving a particular early care or education program may not name the particular program site, location, staff members, or affiliate organizations. Submissions that do not conform to these standards may not be sent for peer review.

For all submissions (paper and poster symposium and individual poster), you will need to prepare:

• Type of submission (poster, paper symposium, or poster symposium)
• Title (limited to 250 characters)
• Submission identifiers (see submission identifiers tab for more information)
• Complete contact information for submission organizer (full name, academic degree, title, organization, phone number, and email address)
• Select identification information for session chairperson, discussant(s), and all authors (full name, academic degree, organization, and email address)

For symposium submissions (both paper and poster), you also will need to prepare:

• An ABSTRACT of the submission. (Up to 75 words; may be copied/pasted into the system.) The abstract should provide a clear and concise description of the symposium. If the submission is selected for inclusion in the conference, the abstract will be published in conference materials.
• An INTEGRATIVE STATEMENT. (Up to 500 words; may be copied/pasted into the system.) The integrative statement should include the following elements:
  • Brief summary of the topic, themes, and papers/posters as well as the links between the papers/posters, and the benefit of combining these works
  • Variety of perspectives or points of view and how they will contribute to a dynamic session
  • Implications for policy, practice, and research and how implications will be incorporated into the symposia
• An OVERVIEW of each paper/poster included in the submission. (May be copied/pasted into the system.) Each overview must include the following components:
  • Introduction (100 words maximum) including background and hypotheses/research questions
  • Methods (200 words maximum) including research design, methodology, and analytic techniques (if appropriate) and explanation of how the work represents leading edge research and furthers knowledge in the field
  • Results (100 words maximum) including preliminary or final findings or, if results are not ready at the time of submission, include variables under study, methodology, proposed data analytic strategy, and proposed timeline
    (Up to two tables or figures may be included, as appropriate, but must be uploaded as attachments to your submission)
  • Implications (100 words maximum) including applied implications for early childhood programs and policies
  • Study/Project Funding Details (yes/no) indicating whether the project or study represented is funded by ACF’s Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
  
  Key references for the overview must be included but do not count toward the word limit and will be collected in a separate field once the overview component fields and any table/figure attachments have been saved.

For individual poster submissions, you also will need to prepare:

• An ABSTRACT of the poster. (Up to 75 words; may be copied/pasted into the system.) The abstract should provide a clear and concise description of the poster. If the submission is selected for inclusion in the conference, the abstract will be published in conference materials.
• An OVERVIEW of the poster.
  • Introduction (100 words maximum) including background and hypotheses/research questions
  • Methods (200 words maximum) including research design, methodology, and analytic techniques (if appropriate) and explanation of how the work represents leading edge research and furthers knowledge in the field
  • Results (100 words maximum) including preliminary or final findings or, if results are not ready at the time of submission, include variables under study, methodology, proposed data analytic strategy, and proposed timeline
    (Up to two tables or figures may be included, as appropriate, but must be uploaded as attachments to your submission)
  • Implications (100 words maximum) including applied implications for early childhood programs and policies
  • Study/Project Funding Details (yes/no) indicating whether the project or study represented is funded by ACF’s Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
  
  Key references for the overview must be included but do not count toward the word limit and will be collected in a separate field once the overview component fields and any table/figure attachments have been saved.

Decision Notification & Rules of Participation

Decision Notification

Decision notification will be sent in March 2024. Only the identified symposium organizer or the contact author of each individual poster will receive the decision notification. They are responsible for informing other participants and authors.

Rules of Participation

• Persons whose presentations are accepted must participate at the time scheduled by the NRCEC 2024 Planning Committee. Any special scheduling requests must be made at the time of acceptance and will be accommodated to the extent feasible. Specific scheduling requests should not be made casually, but to address unavoidable conflicts such as religious observances, medical needs, or international travel limitations. Note that if a presenter has more than two sessions, it may not be possible to accommodate their schedule to allow them to participate in all their sessions.
• Upon request by the conference organizers, symposia and poster presenters must submit electronic copies of their presentation materials to facilitate post-conference website development. Submitted copies may be made available electronically for general access.
• Symposia presenters will be supplied with one LCD projector/screen and a laptop computer during their session. Each poster presenter will be supplied with a poster board and push pins, chair, and a sign indicating only the poster number. All other audiovisual needs must be requested at the time of acceptance and may be met at the presenter’s expense.
• The conference does NOT pay the expenses of presenters accepted through this call. All presenters accepted from the call who will be attending the conference (including chairpersons, discussants, and coauthors) must register. Symposium organizers and poster contact authors accepted through the call are responsible for ensuring that all participants in their events are registered. There is no registration fee.
• Those with submissions accepted through the call are not precluded from publishing their material elsewhere.

Submission Identifiers

[CHOOSE 1 PRIMARY IDENTIFIER, AND UP TO 2 ADDITIONAL IDENTIFIERS]

• Access
• Assessment/Measurement
• Cognitive Development/Executive Functioning
• Comprehensive Service Delivery
• Developmental Delays/Special Needs/Early Intervention
• Dual Language/Literacy Skills
• Early Care and Education Monitoring/Licensing
• Early Care and Education Quality/Effectiveness
• Equity/Culture/Culturally Responsive Practice
• Family Engagement
• Family Well-being and Self-sufficiency
• Funding/Financing/Cost
• Health
• Home Visiting
• Language/Literacy Skills
• Math/Science/Engineering Skills
• Mental Health
• Neuroscience/Brain Development
• Parenting/Parent-child Relationship
• Partnerships/Community Collaborations
• Policy (Federal, State, Local, Program)
• Prevention/Intervention
• Program Improvement Effort/Implementation
• Research Methods
• School Readiness/Kindergarten Entry/Transitions to Kindergarten
• Population: Child Welfare Involved
• Population: Children with Special Needs/Developmental Delays
• Population: Children/Caregivers from Countries other than U.S.A.
• Population: Dual Language Learners/English Language Learners
• Population: Early Elementary (5 to 8-year-olds)
• Population: Homeless
• Population: Immigrants
• Population: Infants/Toddlers (Birth to 3-year-olds)
• Population: Low-income
• Population: Preschool-aged (3 to 5-year-olds)
• Population: Tribal/American Indian and Alaska Native
• Social-emotional Skills/Challenging Behaviors
• Substance Use or Misuse
• Systems Integration and Coordination
• Workforce Development
• Workforce Well-being and Self-sufficiency